The WORST episodes of Restaurant: Impossible
Every episode of Restaurant: Impossible ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Restaurant: Impossible!
After combating countless "impossible dinners," Chef Robert Irvine faces a daunting new challenge: save America’s most desperate restaurants from impending failure in just two days with only $10,000. In his new prime-time Food Network series, Restaurant: Impossible, Robert uses creativity and resourcefulness along with a lot of muscle in his fight to rescue these restaurants and give hope to the owners and their employees. Day one of the extreme mission begins with a thorough business assessment as Robert launches the restaurant into full service, closely observes the staff and kitchen, and determines their weakest spots. Then, he springs into action by updating the menu, retraining the staff and implementing aesthetic changes with the help of his design team. To ensure a packed house for the grand re-opening at the end of day two, Robert hits the streets to tell the community about the improved restaurant. Will the ruthless schedule, tight budget and ambitious task overcome Robert’s lofty goals, or will this tall order result in restaurant triumph?
#1 - Lost in the Bayou
Season 16 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/5/2020
At Lil G's Kajun Restaurant in Louisiana, Chef Robert Irvine meets Therese, who bought the restaurant 12 years ago, having no experience. With her daughter's help, Therese has managed to stay afloat, but after consecutive years of losing more than $100,000, they've run out of options. If Robert can't reverse the tide, Lil G's name is mud.
#2 - Single Dad Sparks His Passion
Season 15 - Episode 4 - Aired 8/10/2019
Robert Irvine is in Nutter Fort, W.V., where a West Virginian-Italian-American-barbecue-family restaurant has a confused identity and is in for one of the biggest transformations ever. Single dad Mike Audia is going to lose his restaurant and his home unless Robert puts everything he has into helping him turn the restaurant around.
#3 - Saving a Family's Legacy
Season 15 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/24/2019
Robert Irvine comes to the rescue of a Maryland seafood restaurant that has been in the family for more than 60 years and is on the brink of closing its doors. Third-generation owner Chad and his sister, Cara, attempt to salvage what's left of their family legacy, determined to keep alive the memory of their late parents and grandparents. With the finances in disarray, nonexistent leadership and a divide between the uninspired staff and stubborn management, Robert faces one of his toughest challenges to keep this family business afloat.
#4 - Dull Diner Dilemma
Season 15 - Episode 5 - Aired 8/17/2019
Robert Irvine is faced with the problem of making a run-of-the-mill diner stand out in the heart of diner country in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts. After 13 years in business, mother and daughter co-owners Rosie and Bridget have run out of money and options. If they are going to be able to save Rosie’s Diner, Robert is going to need to change almost everything in this outdated restaurant.
#5 - Lakefront Disaster
Season 15 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/31/2019
Robert Irvine heads to Tomahawk, Wisc., to try to save a small-town steakhouse from closing. Owner Brenda is just one month away from shutting the doors for good, and she needs Robert to remind her of her passion for the business and help her fix more than 30 years of bad habits. With only two days and $10,000, Robert has his hands full trying to save Besse's on Clear Lake.
#6 - A Daughter Finds Her Groove
Season 15 - Episode 8 - Aired 9/7/2019
Robert Irvine travels to Muncie, Ind., where the rundown Madison Street Retro Diner is in dire straits. Owner Rita Watkins is in charge of the place, but her health is failing, and her daughter, Melissa, can't seem to step up to the plate and take over. Robert has two days to give Melissa the tools and confidence she needs or this home-style, American restaurant has no chance of survival.
#7 - Dumplings in Delaware
Season 16 - Episode 1 - Aired 12/26/2019
Chef Robert Irvine rolls up to the Southern Grille of Ellendale in Ellendale, Del. The owner of the Southern-style restaurant, Ronald, is working too hard to be in so much debt. If Robert can't help him reconnect with what makes him and his restaurant special, the local spot for Southern home cooking is doomed.
#8 - Cleaning Up in Mississippi
Season 16 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/2/2020
Chef Robert Irvine has his work cut out for him when he arrives in Ridgeland, Miss. Rossini's Cucina Italiana is absolutely filthy, and even worse, owners Lori and Toni seem to have given up. Robert has to roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty in order to clean up this small-town restaurant.
#9 - Help Is On the Way
Season 16 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/9/2020
Chef Robert Irvine is in Akron, Ohio, to save Edgar's Restaurant. Fixing a restaurant in only two days is impossible enough, but when Glenn, the restaurant's owner, is less than honest with Robert, it creates a whole new set of problems. If Robert can't figure out what makes Glenn tick, this restaurant has no chance.
#10 - Old Habits Die Hard
Season 16 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/16/2020
At Perella's Ristorante in Warren, R.I., Chef Robert Irvine meets an owner whose stubbornness is holding back his restaurant. Lou hasn't updated the menu, the decor or his opinions since the restaurant opened 25 years ago, and he may lose his restaurant and his legacy if Robert can't convince him to change his ways.
#11 - New Roles, New Results
Season 16 - Episode 5 - Aired 1/23/2020
Chef Robert Irvine comes to the rescue of Foxfire Grill in Alexandria, Va., where the owners, Terri and Jackie, simply can't figure out why they aren't making money. Their restaurant has a good location, they're smart, and they work hard. So what gives? If Robert can't identify and solve the problem, they'll have no choice but to close.
#12 - Out with the Old, In with the New
Season 16 - Episode 6 - Aired 1/30/2020
At Carmine's Chianti Cow in Port Jervis, N.Y., Chef Robert Irvine meets an owner whose identity crisis is threatening his restaurant. Stuck in a rut serving the same food as the previous owner, Chef Keith needs a wake-up call or this potential small-town gem is doomed to close.
#13 - Saving a Piece of History
Season 16 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/6/2020
Robert Irvine tries to save a piece of history in Garrettsville, Ohio, by rescuing a restaurant in a 200-year-old mill. Shelli, the owner of Garrett's Mill Brewing Co., is in over her head after her husband had to return to his trucking job to keep the business afloat. They have a $500,000 payment coming due, and the historic mill is just months away from grinding to a halt.
#14 - Restaurant on the Rocks
Season 16 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/13/2020
Robert Irvine visits Ferguson, Mo., to help a beloved community restaurant on the brink of closing its doors. The owners of Drake's Place, Sonny and Bridget, are out of both money and options. They wish their son would step up more, but Sonny also struggles to give up control. It's up to Robert to see if he can salvage their dream of making this restaurant their family legacy.
#15 - Cajun Seafood Crisis
Season 16 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/20/2020
The Balcony restaurant in Larose, La., is one of the oldest Cajun seafood restaurants in the bayou. The owner has worked there for 28 years, but her friendly relationship with the employees has cost her their respect. Now, Chef Robert Irvine needs her to become the boss she's never been, or she'll lose everything she's worked for.
#16 - Chattanooga Blues
Season 16 - Episode 10 - Aired 2/27/2020
Mike and Cherita started their family-run restaurant, Blue Orleans in Chattanooga, after losing everything in Hurricane Katrina. Now they are going through a divorce, and their kids, Dallen and Jolie, are caught in the crossfire. Chef Robert Irvine works to make the restaurant successful and bring peace back to the family.
#17 - Caribbean Catastrophe
Season 15 - Episode 3 - Aired 8/3/2019
Robert Irvine heads to Chez Olga in Grand Rapids, Mich., where the struggling Caribbean restaurant's dingy dining room, bland menu and terrible kitchen are tearing apart the mother and daughter who run it. Robert must completely revamp the look and menu as well as get the owners to work as partners, or this restaurant is sure to fail.
#18 - Greek Tragedy
Season 16 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/12/2020
Chef Robert Irvine heads to Delray Beach, Fla., to work with Bobby, the owner of Taverna Trela, in hopes of reviving the flagging clientele. Bobby reveals that he has neglected the place due to the loss of his parents, and Robert must dig deep to find a way to fix this family-run Greek restaurant before it's too late.
#19 - Saving a Pastor's Passion
Season 17 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/14/2020
After investing $200,000 and losing $4,000 a month, Andrew, a pastor and owner of home-style restaurant Loyd Have Mercy in Titusville, Fla., has lost hope of turning things around. It's up to Robert Irvine to help Andrew rediscover his passion and his self-confidence, or his restaurant will be shutting its doors forever.
#20 - Fixing a Family in Houston
Season 17 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/21/2020
Buried in debt, Habanera and the Guero in Houston, Texas, is on the verge of closing. The infighting is destroying the business and a 3-year-old daughter is stuck in the middle. Robert Irvine will have to convince the owner, Ben, to step back from the obsessive control of his partner and chef, Vanessa, and concentrate on the rest of the restaurant, or Ben will lose both his business and his family.
#21 - Revisited: Helping Our Own
Season 17 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/28/2020
Robert Irvine returns to Rosie's Cafe in Escondido, Calif., where he previously helped the owner, Kaitlyn, revive her failing restaurant. She has since suffered a near-fatal car accident, and Robert comes back to pull off a spectacular event -- breaking every rule in television if necessary -- to help this Restaurant: Impossible family member with her mounting medical bills.
#22 - Back on Track in Glendora
Season 17 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/4/2020
Robert Irvine heads to T. Phillip's Alehouse and Grill in Glendora, Calif., and finds a restaurant that looks more like a dive bar. The owner, Jen, can't stand up for herself and everyone walks all over her. Robert must find a way to break down Jen's walls in order to build her, and the restaurant, back up.
#23 - The Ginger Monkey Is Going Under
Season 17 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/11/2020
The chef and owner, Jackson, of the Ginger Monkey in Chandler, Ariz., has a ton of experience but can't keep up with the demands of his high-volume restaurant. With three years of losses on the books, he's failing big-time. There's something wrong with this picture, and Robert Irvine is ready to solve the mystery!
#24 - Revisited: Out of Date But Not Out of Time
Season 17 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/18/2020
Robert Irvine returns to Paterson, N.J., to check on one of his most-unique renovations, Paul's Bar and Bowling. When Robert first visited Paul's in 2014, the family business hadn't been updated in decades. With the building falling apart and the owner stuck in a different era, Robert and his team had to make up for a lot of lost time. Now he's back to see if Paul has been able to keep up the improvements and ensure success for years to come.
#25 - Revisited: The Soul of a Marriage
Season 17 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/16/2020
In 2014, Robert Irvine visited Mama E's, a soul food restaurant in Oklahoma City, and he was met with an explosive relationship between the married owners, Keith and Stephanie. Unable to get them to even talk to each other, Robert was faced with the possibility of not completing his mission. As he always does, Robert made great strides with the owners and eventually handed them the restaurant of their dreams. As he revisits Mama E's for the first time in six years, Robert finds whether Keith and Stephanie were able to overcome marital obstacles to run a successful business, or if they've reverted to old ways.